This update reviews articles on benign and malignant hematologic conditions published in 2014 that the author considers important and relevant to practicing internists. In addition to the articles discussed below, it is worth noting that in 2014, the American Society of Hematology published its second “Choosing Wisely” list (1). The Society has added 5 commonly used tests, treatments, and procedures in hematology that might not always be necessary.

In the field of malignant hematology, a new agent, idelalisib, was added to rituximab to treat frail, elderly, pretreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a disease seen more commonly in internal medicine practice. In addition, a study reported updated findings with personalized cellular therapeutics in the form of chimeric antigen receptor T cells to treat relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adults.